I seem to remember my granddad having to pay for a nebuliser (he died of emphysema), as it wasn't something provided on the NHS. Here, nebulisers are only given out for really severe asthma, as generally, for anyone else, the thought it that if you n

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I seem to remember my granddad having to pay for a nebuliser (he died of emphysema), as it wasn't something provided on the NHS. Here, nebulisers are only given out for really severe asthma, as generally, for anyone else, the thought it that if you need a nebuliser treatment, you need to be in hospital. Our local healthcare trust isn't bad - North Staffs and Stoke on Trent have realised, finally, if they join forces they can provide a much better service. I complained once as there wasn't a North Staffs physio clinic at a suitable time, other than one 30 mins away in Leek, but as I am registered at a North Staffs doctor, not Stoke (depsite living 1/4 miles from the city limit), I couldn't go to a Stoke clinic, even though to get to Leek I'd have to drive right

through Stoke. I don't have one of the pre-pay certificates, as I don't need too many prescriptions, so it's cheaper for me to pay them individually.Prescriptions are £7-40 no matter what, so the NHS are making loads from my salbutamol, which actually costs them about £1-50 per inhaler, but my seretide is £35 per inhaler, adn I get 2 at a time, so £7-40 for two, so I'm saving a LOT thenJenn Jenn Tha can tek t'lass outta Yorkshire...! Don't brand me, don't classify me, don't tell me what to

wear. I'll be who I want to be, and I'm proud to be me. To: "asthma " <asthma > Sent: Thursday, 28 June 2012, 9:41 Subject: Re: nebuliser Autumn

Hi Autumn, I normally purchase a 12 month pre-payment prescription card for my meds, this means I pay a one off fee and then the cost of all the meds I need are covered for that period. This only applies to prescription charges because luckily in the UK, our health treatment is covered by the National Health Service, so seeing a doctor or being dragged into a hospital occurs no cost to us as individuals.

Medical equipment for home use is slightly different depending on which part of the country or what particular Primary Health Care Trust one falls under. Sadly down in the deep southwest of the UK, we rarely see the funding and financial help that most other parts of the country see. I have no doubt if I pushed, I would be entitled to a NHS nebuliser but with strings attached as usual. By owning my personal nebuliser, I don't have to bother with the red tape and single brain celled medical administration!

Isn't life so entertaining when one has a permanent illness or disease, such fun!

Cheers from Mike (Chip) Chapman

Author of, A Fly on the Ward

http://bit.ly/KLXYO6

To: asthma Sent: Wednesday, 27 June 2012, 21:37Subject: Re: nebuliser Autumn

That really sucks, you can't get state help for meds?

Hi everyone, hope you're all well, healthy and bright today?

OK, I need some information but please bear in mind I am in the UK and do not have the riches of a banker.

I need a new nebuliser, my present one is an Omron and I have had it several years now. It has worked well but now the poor thing is becoming very slow. Administering a 5ml dose of salbutamol takes over 15 minutes, when salbutamol & Ipratropium are taken

together, the resulting 10ml dose can take over 35 minutes to be delivered!

If I use my oxygen the dose takes just half the time, but I cannot keep using the O2 just for nebs.

At the moment taking my nebs via the nebuliser requires planning to allow for the time involved, so a faster nebuliser would help a great deal. I'm rough as the proverbial rat at the moment with poor breathing, plugs like concrete and pleurisy as a side order! I need to administer my nebs about 6 times per day at the moment and that's a whole 3 hours out of my day.

So I feel it's time to renew the nebuliser. Can anyone suggest a reasonable price nebuliser that can deliver a dose in less than 15 minutes please? If possible the actual makers name and web site would be helpful, but any info would be appreciated.

Many thanks.

Cheers from Mike (Chip) Chapman

Author of, A Fly on the Ward

http://bit.ly/KLXYO6